Purchasing Officer
On this page
- What's it like to be a Purchasing Officer?
- How to become a Purchasing Officer
- Latest Purchasing Officer jobs
- Top skills and experience for Purchasing Officers
- Purchasing Officer role reviews
What's it like to be a Purchasing Officer?
A Purchasing Officer (Āpiha Hoko) is responsible for purchasing what their workplace needs in order to operate properly. This can range from raw materials in the manufacturing industry to merchandise in the retail industry. Purchasing Officers may work in private companies or in the government sector. As well as buying the necessary goods, Purchasing Officers are responsible for conducting product research, quality control, inventory monitoring, budgeting, and other tasks. Purchasing Officers must have good knowledge of their industry and the needs of their business.
Tasks and duties
- Researching suppliers.
- Comparing and evaluating supplier offers.
- Negotiating contract terms and pricing.
- Tracking orders and ensuring smooth delivery.
- Assessing and monitoring the quality of products.
- Entering data into order portals and customer relationship management systems.
- Monitoring stock levels.
- Placing orders as needed.
- Coordinating with warehouse staff to ensure storage requirements are met.
- Working within set budgets.
- Coordinating logistics.
How to become a Purchasing Officer
There isn’t one single path to becoming a Purchasing Officer but having a tertiary qualification can be helpful.
Identify the industry you want to work in. Working as a Purchasing Officer in fashion retail is very different from working in roading infrastructure.
Consider completing a tertiary qualification in procurement or purchasing and supply management, or taking courses on these subjects as part of a broader degree, such as a Bachelor of Commerce. To work in government procurement, consider applying for the New Zealand Government Procurement graduate training programme, a two-year programme for recent university graduates.
Gain industry experience. Junior roles that include accounting/bookkeeping or inventory control can lead to a job as a Purchasing Officer.
